Blogging for Future Teachers (And Donors Choose!)

“Finding a teaching job can be hard, but here is some advice to make it easier…”

In these days of budget crunches, it's hard to find a teaching position when so many positions are being cut! However, here are a few pieces of advice that just might grant you that second look from a school system!

• Be familiar and open to all technology, both new and old
  

When I first started teaching, technology was letting your kids go on the computer and play a few games, and maybe using the Internet to research a few sites for background information for a unit. Today, my room is filled with technology - we use a document camera to showcase books, to help assist students filling out an interactive notebook page, and even demonstrating simple things, such as attraction and repulsion with magnets! Laptops are a great way to keep students involved with interactive websites that help practice concepts. Blogging is a great way for students to express their thoughts on a topic (and they find it much more fun than just pencil and paper!). We have a class wiki site, where videos, pictures, and links help us learn more about a subject. Be open to new technology, keep up with the Web 2.0 tools, and stay informed!

• Be open to new ideas.

Find out what the newest "buzz" is about. Whether it's reaching the students of poverty (Ruby Payne), using teaching strategies to reach all students (CRISS training), or being familiar with school wide goals (correlate committees, Effective Schools), be familiar with what is going on in the school systems. An easy way to do this is to check the websites of the systems you are interested in. Often there will be links or more information available. Being in an interview, and knowing the latest trends in teaching, especially one that the schools are already into, is a definite plus.

• Be flexible!

One of the most important things I've learned with teaching is to be flexible! Snow days, assemblies, observations, meltdowns...these all occur in your room and will often upset even the best laid plans! Sometimes, your lesson also can become a "teachable moment." This is when you might get off track from your original lesson from a question or statement from the student, but I find it turns into a better lesson than one originally planned! After all, we are here to teach the children. And if your students are interested enough in a topic that they want to know more about a certain area, go for it! Be flexible in that you can change your plans without too much stress. Be open to student comments and what they want to learn, and be willing to research a little (Google, anyone?). Also, show students how they can also access the information they are interested in!

• Be yourself!

You can use all the buzz words you want in an interview, give the best answers, but often that comes across as stiff and unnatural. You are going to want to teach in a system where you can be yourself. Know what type of learner you are (visual, kinesthetic, etc.) and expand on that, but note that you may need to work on other ways to reach your students who do not learn like you. Interviews are nerve wracking. After teaching 11 years, I received my masters degree and am now licensed to be a Library Media Specialist. I had my first interview in 11 years for a position. It made me very nervous! However, I took from that interview things that I need to work on next time (learning experience!), as well as ways to present myself in a better way. Learn from your experiences. It's not often that you get the job from that first interview! However, if you are yourself in the interview, you will be more relaxed, and often show a better side of yourself than if you are just quoting journal articles! :)

This is my 12th year teaching and currently, I am a second grade teacher. My class website, as well as our class wiki site and this blog are ways that our class reaches out to the community. Please see links to the side of the blog for further information, or feel free to email me at youelcm@lcps.k12.va.us for any questions. This year, I have really branched out and given myself new experiences! This blog is in its first year. I also presented at a state wide conference on "Voice Threads," a project my students LOVE doing! I have gotten involved with Donors Choose, and so far, my class has earned digital cameras, a document camera, and a listening center. I just received a small grant from Playmobil as well, to enhance our Social Studies curriculum. Be open to new ideas, new experiences, and you'll certainly enjoy that teaching career!

This post is part of the Teaching Jobs Portal: “How to land a Teacher Job”. What was your journey like to become a teacher? If you’d like to share your experience with other aspiring teachers please see this post for more information. For more information, contact http://teachingjobsportal.com.

Happy Valentines/Presidents Day!

Happy (early) Valentine's Day!
While we were going to exchange Valentines today, I would like to postpone that to the first day we are back (hopefully Monday!). If you have not been able to get out and have your child address valentines, know that I am bringing in 25 boxes of donated valentines to the classroom so that your child will not be left out. We will set aside time during the day for everyone to address valentines. :)

I have included a video below that is something funny that deals with one of our famous Americans that also ties in to President's Day on Monday. Enjoy!

Will It Ever End?

Wow! I cannot believe we have been snowed in for this long! I hope everyone is safe and warm. My family lost power from Fri night until yesterday evening (Tuesday). I hope everyone else was luckier than we were!!!! I can honestly say that I am tired of snow days and just want to get back to our "regular schedule." I am sure many of you are feeling the same!

With the Winter Olympics starting this Friday, I wanted to share with you the new folder I have placed on our portaportal about it, from the official site to other "kid friendly" sites. Opening ceremonies look to be amazing!

Thank you to one of the parents who emailed me and reminded me about making the Scholastic flyers available online. My apologies about that. It is now up (user name: youel, password: class).

When we return to school, we will be reviewing time for Math and then taking a test on that subject, so that we can begin probability, our next unit. Please practice with your child with the terms "half past", "quarter till" and "quarter after." Those seem to be the terms giving us the most trouble! In Science, we will begin our life cycle unit (study guides to go home as soon as we return). We will be focusing on flowering/fruit plants, frogs, and butterflies. I have posted some links on the portaportal for practice under "plants" and "animals."

Whenever we do return, we are slated for P.E. that day for resource. Even on a two hour delay day, we've been having resource for 30 minutes, starting at 10am.

Don't forget about the 6 hours of reading for the Six Flags reading incentive! If your child finishes, you can email me and I will add their name to the list! So far, we've had two students complete their 6 hours! Congratulations! :)

Famous American Projects: Great job everyone!

How's the Weather?

I hope everyone is enjoying their snow days and are safe and sound. My household briefly had no power or phone on Sunday, but fortunately all was restored by Sunday night/Monday morning!

Wow, this has been a crazy week so far, and it's only Tuesday! Happy Groundhog Day to everyone! Not suprisingly, the groundhog saw his shadow, so 6 more weeks of winter (looking outside my window right now, I can definitely see that!). I know for my 9 year old, this has been the most snow he's ever seen in a winter! I am sure the same is for your family!

When we return this week, there will be no Word Study this week. Instead, students will do a review in class. I will say the same for the Reading Log. This is a great time for your child to work on their 6 hours for the "Wild About Reading" (Six Flags) incentive! I have two students who have already completed their reading! This counts as anything reading - magazines, reading to family members, books, etc. The purpose of the program is to promote pleasure reading for kids (hey, it's not just for school assignments!).

Students did a wonderful job on their Famous American projects! I will be posting pictures on the blog of them shortly!

I will be attaching this blog to your child's agenda in lieu of announcements this week, for those that cannot check it online.

So for homework: We will have a brief review of Famous Americans this week and a test, and begin our next Science unit: Life Cycles (plants and animals) 2.4. A study guide will be coming home this week. Again, no word study or reading log for this week (students can work on their "Wild About Reading" 6 hours instead). If you need valentine cards, please let me know. I have a carton filled with boxes donated to our classroom! A class list of first names went home last week with the note.

Enjoy your days and hope to see you soon! :)